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Fantasy Football: 10 Biggest Injury Concerns at Tight End

These big targers also come with a sizeable injury risk

Injuries are certainly a part of football, and fantasy football, for that matter, but when it comes to the latter that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't be prepared.

Here are the top injury concerns when it comes to tight end. The position continues to evolve thanks to the record-setting efforts of the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Of course with more passes being thrown their way comes an increase risk of injury. These tight ends are the ones you should be most wary of when it comes to the potential for missing a game or two.

1. Jason Witten, Dallas
Witten has missed a total of one game in nine seasons. But the Cowboys' All-Pro and Tony Romo's favorite target suffered a lacerated spleen on a hit in the team's Aug. 13 preseason game, which changes everything. The good news is that it appears Witten will not need surgery, which would have put him out of action indefinitely. However, he is a longshot at best to play in Week 1 and no one knows for sure when he will be back on the field at this point.

2. Antonio Gates, San Diego
The talented tight end turns 32 this summer and has missed nine games over the last two years with a variety of lingering issues.

3. Owen Daniels, Houston
Experienced a slight return to form last fall but still missed time due to injury. Has missed 14 games over the last three seasons.

4. Dallas Clark, Tampa Bay
The aging vet has dealt with major injuries for the better part of two years, missing 15 games over that span. If healthy, he has a clear path to the starting job in Tampa.

5. Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati
After suffering an ACL tear in high school (2005) and college (2009), Gresham missed two games last season with a hamstring injury. He returned and played well in the second half of the season. Gresham suffered a right knee sprain in the Bengals' preseason game against Atlanta, but appears to have escaped serious injury.

6. Rob Gronkowski, New England
When you play a physical brand of football like the Gronk, injuries will always be a concern. Hopefully, the ankle injury he sustained in the 2011 playoffs isn’t a sign of things to come.

7. Tony Moeaki, Kansas City
There were high hopes for the second-year player before he tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the entire 2011 season.

8. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota
Showed the ability to stay healthy last year (he missed one game) but had a history of significant injuries while at Notre Dame.

9. Martellus Bennett, New York Giants
The former Dallas Cowboy has always had massive physical upside, but due to lack of focus and minor injuries, he has never delivered on his talent.

10. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
The greatest ever to play the position has missed only two career games, but Gonzo is 36, and one would think that at some point his body may begin to break down.